Leaf-spring.



W. F. DELEHANTY.

LEAF SPRING. APPLICATION mi FEB. 12. ms.

1 ,21 2,9 1 6. Z0 Patented Jam 16, 1917.

I WILLIAM F. IDELEHA NTY, 0F IlOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

mar-s'rnmc.

. Specification Letters Patent. Patentd Jan;

Application filed February 12, 1916. Serial 110.779.

To all whom it ma cohcem:

Be itknown t at I, WILLIAM .F. DELE- HAN'rir, of Boston, in the county of'Sufl'olk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leaf-Springs, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to leaf springs such as are used in automobiles and other vehicles and has for its object to provide a novel connection between the individual leaves of the spring by which saidleaves are held out p mg the links. to theleavesxmay; be employedof frictional engagement with each other "thereby eliminating the excessive friction ordinarily incident to the use of leaf springs, andby which said leaves areeach' free to flex or'yield when load is applied, so that the maximum resiliency of the spring is secured. I secure this end by ivotall connecting the ends of each 0 the s orter leaves of the spring to one of the lon er leaves by a linkage connection which he 'ds the leavesiseparated, but allows them to move relative to each other. freely as the I spring isfiexed or bent. -I also preferably vprovide spacing means at the "central portion of thespring for holding the leaves separated at their central portion. All fric' tional contact between the leaves is thus eliminated. In order to' give an understanding of my invention Ihave illustrated in the drawings a selected: embodiment thereof which i will now be described, after which the novel features thereof will be pointed out in the Figure 1 is a plan view of the top leaf of the spring; Fig. 2 is a side edge view, of the same; Fig. 3 is a top view of a lcaf which isintermediate the top and bottom-leaves; Fig. 4 is a' 'sideview of the same; Fig. 5

is a plan'viewpfthe bottom leaf; Fig. 6

is aside view of the same;' Fig. 7 is a plan'. view. ofvthe" spacing block =by'- which the leavesare separated at the center Fig. 8 is a side viewof theisame Fig. 9 is a side view of a. complete sprin formedof a series :of

superposed leaves? .igll llflis a cross-sec- :tion on the lineA--A, 'g. 9. v

i My invention may be embodied in springs yofdiflerent sizes and shapes and springs withtany 'desired number of leaves.

The

spring shown in the drawing 'has three leaves a," b and c superposed one on the other, and each of the leaves is slightly curved. This particular shape,,h0wcver, 1s-

not essential to the invention.

Each of the shorter leaves a and b pivotallconnected ateachmf its ends to a longer eaf by--means of links which hold the leaves properly spaced. For instance,

the shortest leaf, a is pivotallyconnected'at its ends-to the next lon erleaf bby means 1 of links 26, andthe en s-oftheleafbare in turn .pivotally. connected-to {the leaf 0 by means of links 26'.

Any suitable manner of pivotall yconncct without departing from the invention. .A convenient and practical structure is herein illustrated wherein .the ends .ofthe upper leafa are provided-with upturned eyes 21 which receive. bolts ,on which: the upper ends of the links 26 are, ivotallyimounted. The lower ends of sai mounted on projections or lugs 22 exten ing laterally-from the leafb adjacentzthe ends thereof.= Ihe'leaf b is also provided at its ends witharpturnedearsfltl which relinks 26 are pivotaliiv" 7'5.-

eeive bolts on which the upperenjds of the links26 are pivotally. mounted, the. lower the leaves properly. spaced from. each other as shown. This llnlcconnection provides, a pivotal connection between the. leaves which not only holds them out. of frictional engagement with each other, lbutjitalso ro-J vid'es-a construction which allowseach eaf to freely flex as load is appliedso that the spring will have its maximum resiliency. A

further advantag is thatlthe slink construction will prevent he cnds'of the leaves from separating when ,the spring recoils and will also hold the l a'ves in alinement.

I have also pr'ovided herein spacingblocks for holding the leaves separated at their at-15. The blocksanjd leaves are so concentral portion, these blocksbeingiindicatedl 1 i structed-Ithat they have.v an interlocking engagement with each other. ,{Theleaves a and 7) areprovided on their under: faces with P ojections 20.,adapted. toefit in re-, 0

cesses .or sockets 20' ingthe upper side .of the spacing block 15, and each spacing block has on its under side alug orvpr ojectlon' 16, asvbest. seen in Fig. 8, ,which,sets .intofa socket 17' formed in the upper side of the separated as described. 2. A spring comprising a series of superleaf. The leaves are thus held spaced from each other by spacingjmeans which are thus held interlocked with the leaves.

While I have illustrated a selected embodiment of my invention, I do not wisheto be limited to the constructional features shown.

I claim:

1. A spring comprising a series of superposed leaves, all having terminal eyes" and all save the upper'one having lateral lugs, blocks separating the springs at the middle, and links applied pivotally to the said and thus connecting the end lugs and eycs,

but holding them portions of the leaves,

posedleaves', 'the'upper two having their ends formed as upturned eyes, all the leaves except the upper, one having lateral lugs,

and links applied to said eyes and lugs, and thus pivotally connecting the end portions of the springs and holding them spaced apart, as described.

3; A spring posed leaves of di erent lengths, and links pivotally connected to the ends of each of the shorter leaves and also pivotally connected to a longer leaf, said links being of such a length -as to hol d the ends of the 30 leaves spaced from each other while permitting the leaves to freely flex as load is applied.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, in presence of two" witnesses.

WILLIAM F. .DELEHANTY.

Witnesses:

, HENRY J. DIXON,

J OHN' J. H RTNETT.

com rising a series of super- 25 

